Combustion chamber for internal-combustion engines



Nov. 2 1926.

G. WIRRER COMBUSTION CHAMBER FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed March 2.2. 1923 R a m d A I 4 @MAVM W ATTORNEY5.

Patented Nov. .2, H

U IT-so[STATE -PATE T FFIC horrrnmn' wnmnn, or PLAINFIELIS, Nnw Jnnsny, assmNon "r m'rnnNn-r'oNar.

moron eonrm, or N W-203x, N.IY., A CORPORATION or nnrlawsnn.

ooxnus'rrofi 011mm Ion. iNrnnNsn counusrro ENGINES.

' jApplication madman 22, 19 23. Serial No. 626,721.

Flame propagation in internal combustion engmes while popularly termed an explosion is in reality a burning, the. rate of which determines to an appreciable extent theef: v ficiency of the engine. --Accordingly, it is important that the ignition'device be so disposed with respect to the body of gas to be ignited that the entire-body of gas shall .be ignited as rapidly as possible. Theoretically, the ideal position for the ignition means is immediately in the geometric center of the 'body of gas but this hondition cannot be obtained in any combustionspace' A further consideration in "efliclent' gas engine practice is the provision of the greatest possible volumetric capacity with the minimum radiating surface. The ideal construction to satisfy this condition would be a truly spherical combustion space." This is'not l feasible, however, 'in' a' practical engine; rincipal ob ect of the present inven-- The tion, iowever, is to meet the two conditions outlined'to the greatestdegree possible in a construction which will givethe greatest possible volumetric capacity obtainable withthe most advantageous location of the ignition means with respect to thebody of gas in the combustion space.v It is also true in practice that the heat of the spark from any" available igniting devices cannot be s uflicient 'to cause what may be termed approximatelyspontaneous ignition and a much more intense igniting securing rapid ignition of .the'main' charge.

A further, object of the present invention is,

therefore, to incorporate in 1a. firing chamber what may 'be termed a supplemental detonatingss acewithin which 1s confined a charge whic uponignition, projects itself into the main body of gas uniformly and with relative intense heat explodes it spontane ously. In meetin these joint conditions it is proposed, in t e preferred embodiment,- to form the combustion space of-annular form and suitable cross section and, to dispose the ignition device'centrallof theannulus but communicating free y within a supplemental detonating charge with the maincharge so that the ignitin flame may a move outwardly along a radia path' and flame would be desirable for- The'invention described with fur ther. reference to the ings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a view accompanying draw ternal. combustion engine havin a head and combustion space constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a view in horizontal section taken on the plane indicated by the line 22' of Figure 1 and lookingin' the direction of the arrows.

The drawings are intended toillustrate the principleof the invention' in rather con ventional form and it is to be understood and arrangement of parts are to be imposed in vertical 'section through a fragment of-a cylinder of an inthat no limitations as-to; size, dimensionsby reason of the precise embodiment illus- The desir erally circular-or other capacious-form in cross section as, for instance, by'co-o rating complementary curvedcliannels 1n the engine head 6 and in the head of the'piston a. The curved grooves thus formed are an: f nularin each instance so that when the piston is at the topof its stroke an annular combustion space ofgenerally circular form incross section results. With this condition satisfied the present invention takes advantage of the rela'tion of ignition means illustrate as a conventional (parts to bring. the

spark plu d, centrally of the bod of gas to be ignitedby disposingthe spark 'plu centrally of the head b, that is, centrally o the annular combustion space a; Of course, the ignition points will communicate at the time of firing with the combustion space, which is to say, flame propagation will take place radially from the points into the annular body of gas and uniformly and cen-' trally-thereof. The result will be that generally uniform ignition will occur in the shortest possible space of 'timeacross the body of gas, and the quickest rateof flame propagation will be insured, approximating a trueexplosion.

described the principle on Which Having the invention rests and the two important conditions which it satisfies, some of the details of the illustrated embodiment will be described for the sake of completeness. The engine cylinder (1 may be water-jacketed and communicate with the jacketed engine head I). Centrally of the head is formed a recess 1) into which the body of the spark plug (1 may be introduced. The points of the spark plug may themselves rest within a comparatively shallow firing chamber 12 which may entrap a small volume of charge and yet communicate freely with the annular combustion space a when the piston c is in firing position.

The charge confined within the shallow.

firing chamber 6 may be thought of as a .detonating charge which upon ignition on the up-stroke of the piston is caused to propagate flame of intense heat radially and uniformly'i'into the main charge confined Within the outer channels. This insures a quick combustion approaching a spontaneous explosion as is desirable.

- It is .to be understood that the annular chamber a might be formed of semi-circular outline'only and wholly in the head I) or wholly in the piston 0 without departing 'from'the spirit of the invention and some of the advantages thereof retained but it is believed thatthe fullest results will be 'secured by making the chamber a of substan-" the lower half of which is formed in the piston'heads 2. In an internal combustion engine an annular combustion chamber of substantially circular cross sectional form the upper half of which is formed in the cylinder head and the lower half of which is formed in the piston head and having ignition devices disposed centrally thereof and communicating therewith.

3. In an internal combustion engine an annular combustion chamber of generally circular cross sectional form the upper half of which is formed in the cylinder head and the lower half of which is formed in the piston head.

4. In an internal combustion engine an annular combustion chamber of substantially circular cross sectional form, a spark plug disposed centrally of the annular chamber, the engine being provided with a separate combustion space in proximity to the spark plug communicating with the annutlar combustion chamber.

5. In an internal combustion engine in combination with the cylinder walls, the piston and a cylinder head, an annular channel semi-circular in cross section formed in the cylinder head and a complementary channel semi-circular in cross section formed in the piston head, said channels co-operating to form an annular combustion chamber of substantially circular cross sectional form.

of which is formedin the cylinder headand" 6. In an internal combustion engine an annular combustion chamber, a supplemen-' tal firing chamber disposed centrally of the said combustion chamber and communicating therewith and ignition devices disposed within the firing chamber.

This specification signed this 14 day of March A; D. 1923.

eo'rrrnmn WIRRER. 

